Started at the Visitor's center and took the Old Mt. Mitchell trail to the summit, and then on to Mt. Craig, Big Tom, Balsam Cone, and Cattail Pk., and back the same way, plus the nature trail, for 3116' of gain.

Climbed from the Deep Gap Trailhead near Mt. Mitchell. The trail was muddy with plenty of slick rocks due to all the recent rain. We had partially clear skies to Mt. Craig and then the low lying clouds took over so we decided to shorten our day and stopped shortly after Balsam Cone.

We enjoyed this peak - twice, because we went from Mt. Mitchell, down to Cattail Peak, and back. We loved the views, the moisture of the rain forest, the steep trail...all of it was fantastic. And...we saw only ONE person on this trail this entire day...amazing!

Crossed (rain, mist and sleet) on my loop---12 hrs. 1 hr to Horse Rock trail, then up, over to the Bowlen's Creek end of Ridge Crest Trail, turned and went to Mitchell, before coming back to Deep Gap, down most of Colbert's Ridge, and then 'bushwack' to Locust Creek and White Oak Creek.
---From Winter Star, the Mitchell side of the Ridge Crest Trail is always less weather friendly during the winter and early spring.